A favorite time of year comes at the end of July...the annual Northwestern Company meetings in Milwaukee. This year we decided to only take the two oldest kiddos. So hard to leave Luca behind, but she was in very good hands with Grandma B.
Here we are early morning on race day ready for the 5K. This would be the first year without a stroller in the race...Kaiya insisted.
She did ok, but daddy had to carry her part of the way. Her comment at the end of the race was that next year she is using the stroller. :)
I felt great through the whole race. I've been walking at home so three miles really wasn't a big deal. Right at the end of the race Kevin and Caedmon decided to run the rest of the way to the finish line...Kaiya and I would walk the rest of the way. They took off...I could still see them running ahead when I got a sharp pain in my back and across my abdomen. It got pretty intense...so intense that I had to stop and rest. I had Kaiya with me and tried to breath through the pain and relax, but it didn't go away. Finally, I decided to start walking again and try to make it to the end so I could get some help from Kevin. Thankfully the pain left as I continued walking and by the time I made it to Kevin it was completely gone. We had another mile to walk back to our hotel...I took it slow and was feeling ok again. Kevin decided to go on ahead because he needed to get showered and make it to a meeting shortly....he would meet me back at the room.
Here it is again...just Kaiya and I. We made it to the hotel fine and while waiting for the elevator, here comes the pain again...I stood there for a bit and realized that I needed to lay down very soon...it was getting very intense. So we took the stairs...like seven flights. By the time I made it back to our room, I was in tears...the pain was so intense and would not go away. It came two more times after that throughout the day and finally stopped by the end of the day. I called the dr. on call and she assumed they were contractions which my doctor later told me they were not. She thought I just had overdone myself.
Later that evening and feeling much better...at the sea lion show on Zoo Picnic Day.
I usually have a stroller and a child to look after that's too small for this ride. So I usually happily observe and take pictures from below. This year, everyone was big enough and we were stroller-free...so I went. Didn't enjoy the ride so much...worried about someone falling off let along getting off and on the ride safely. Whew...glad to be on the ground again when that was over.
It's always a joy to hang out with these dear friends. Great faces here.
Lots of games for the kiddies to enjoy...including the big kid.
Taken outside the Dairy Barn at the Zoo.
Day three was museum day.
This year we checked out one we haven't been to yet...the aquarium was a hit with the kids.
Caedmon wanted me to take his picture with the puffer fish...in honor of Jake. :)
They also has a cool "touching" area where you could touch some of the stingrays and other fish. My kids were too afraid to touch...and well, I didn't really want to touch the things either. I'm sure it would have been a different story if dad wouldn't have been there.
Dinner out with friends...we got to eat outside on that beautiful evening.
Day four - waterpark fun
And a Keith Urban concert that evening.
A very fast-paced week, but packed with tons of fun once again!
Days when the blessing of a grandma, mother-in-law and mom come together to help with a big project that would be overwhelming for me to do myself. So thankful for their help and so thankful for the joy they brought to our home that day. I wish I could bottle up the wonderful smell of apples cooking on the stove that filled my house that day.
So thankful for how they love on my children and are eager to hold them. 
So thankful for their patience with them...taking time to teach them new things. 
Great Grandma patiently sat with Kaiya when she got home from preschool and helped her with writing her numbers. 
So thankful for the sweet conversations with Great Grandma about my pregnancy and the stories she shared about her pregnancies.
Baby Luca even got to help a bit.
So thankful that my freezer is full of the delicious applesauce we made that day. 
How could this be? One already? 
My mom graciously agreed to make cupcakes for the party...she's amazing. I made the toppers.
There was a pretty big threat of rain that day and it did rain earlier in the day. We prayed and God blessed us with an evening that turned our perfectly beautiful for our outdoor birthday party.
Entertainment for the kiddos.
Sunday School friends...Kylie and Kaiya
Luca getting some love from Aunt Sarah.
Caedmon being silly with cousin Jake.
Sharing with Grandpa B.
Then God gave us you. We rejoiced and thanked Him for this amazing priceless gift. Each day with you has been a gift...caring for you a privilege...watching you grow, a joy. 
Each milestone of your first year we joyfully celebrated along the way. Your brother and sister were your biggest cheerleaders. They took front row seats when you took your first bite of carrots, and sat up on your own. Daddy helped you learn to crawl and walk and mommy ran for the camera each time you did something new.
It feels as if you have always been here. God knew what He was doing and had a plan for you to be apart of our family long before you were born. We know that now for sure. 
And this shot will have to do for my five month belly shot. I thought it was a good enough side view. :)
More entertainment for the kiddos. 
The bubble wall maker turned into a bubble bath for cousin Lincoln. :) 
And others joined in excitedly until soap got in their eyes. Uh-Oh.
A gift from Grandma & Grandpa B.
Cousin Emmi giving you a tractor ride.
More birthday lovin' from Grandma B.
Happy 1st Birthday sweet Luca Bella! We love you forever.
You have a great cheering club that was so excited to see you finally take off on your own. There are more bumps and bruises on your soft little body since you're still unsteady and learning. 
You are learning sign language and have caught on so quickly signing please, thank you, all done and even no. You say Da-dee (daddy) more than any other word. You also say mama, Kaiya, all done and hi.
You said goodbye to your bottle and are doing great on regular milk out of a sippy cup. You also said goodbye to your pacifier...that was a sad sad day, but you're doing great. 
I've been feeling great this month with the exception of the intense heat of this summer. When I walk my ankles swell and I've had some braxton hicks contractions. So glad the biggest part of my pregnancy will be in the Fall and early Winter months when it's much cooler. :) I've been amazed and fascinated by all the movement of this little guy. Usually in the evenings is when he's the most active. I love sitting down after the kids are in bed and watching Kevin enjoy feeling him move. It's fun to actually be big enough now for people to notice that I'm pregnant. I'm still surprising some at church and school that hadn't heard the news yet.
And then there on screen is our baby...looking so much bigger than the previous ultrasounds. We can see a little nose, eyes, ears, tiny toes, legs moving and kicking, fingers wiggling around and popping in a little mouth to be sucked on...a tiny heart beating. 
Amazing...absolutely amazing to see God fearfully and wonderfully knitting together this tiny little miracle. And then, the ultrasound tech quickly searched down by the legs to see if we would be adding a little boy or a little girl to our family. 
She said it was quite obvious as you can see. :) Kevin and I immediately broke out in a joyous laughter and the tears began to flow. Another son, would join this family of ours...a son.
